Battle Against Youth Vaping

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently launched a statewide information campaign called The New Look of Nicotine Addiction that’s all about vaping. The website of the campaign, GetOutraged.org, is a resource to help parents of teenagers, schools and youth workers better understand what vaping is and how vaping can harm developing adolescent brains. It provides ideas for how to talk with children about vaping and JUULing and a toolkit of resources for schools and community-based organizations.

Nearly 1 in 4 high school youth in Massachusetts report that they use e-cigarettes. Sweet flavors attract young people and are the leading reason that youth are vaping. Vape “juices” come in thousands of flavors, such as Swedish Fish, s'mores, and mango.

These products are not harmless; there is nicotine in them. Nicotine is highly addictive and can damage a young person’s developing brain, harming the parts of the brain that control attention and learning. Nicotine exposure can lead to mood disorders and permanently lower impulse control.

To learn more about vaping, visit GetOutraged.org. See what vaping products look like, get answers to frequently asked questions, and learn more about how to talk with youth about vaping. Printed materials are available to order free of charge or to download, and you can learn about other actions adults can take.

Talking with young people about vaping is essential to make sure they know it’s harmful. Visit GetOutraged.org to learn more or contact Morissa Vital of the Southeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership at (774) 634-3955 or mvital@sevenhills.org.